| King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, | 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, |
| 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: | 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house: |
| 3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, | 4I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers, |
| 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; | 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. |
| 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. | 6I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ. |
| 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. | 7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. |
| 8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, | 8So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, |
| 9Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. | 9I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well. |
| 10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: | 10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains. |
| 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: | 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. |
| 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: | 12I am sending back to you him who is my very heart. |
| 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: | 13I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel. |
| 14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. | 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will. |
| 15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; | 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— |
| 16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? | 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord. |
| 17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. | 17So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. |
| 18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; | 18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. |
| 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. | 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self. |
| 20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. | 20Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. |
| 21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. | 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. |
| 22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. | 22In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. |
| 23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; | 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, |
| 24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. | 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. |
| 25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. | 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
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